1. Chapter 15.3
Challenges to Slavery

2. A New Political Party
Antislavery Whigs and Democrats joined forces with Free-soilers to form Republican Party
Republican party we have today
Republican party strength lays in the North. Why?

3. The election of 1856 Republican Party nominated John Fremont
“Free soil, free speech and Fremont”
Democrat Party nominated James Buchanan supported Popular Sovereignty
Know Nothing (American Party) nominated Millard Fillmore
James Buchanan won

4. Dred Scott Decision
Dred Scott was an enslaved African American bought by an army doctor in Missouri
Moved with owner to Wisconsin territory where slavery was outlawed by Northwest Ordinance
Moved back to Missouri and owner died
Abolitionist helped Dred Scott sue for freedom
Went to Supreme Court

5. Courts Decision Chief Roger Taney decision Dred Scott still a slave
Being a slave, he is not a citizen and had no right to bring a lawsuit
Ruled that enslaved person was property and can’t take property away from people without “due process of law”
Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional because Congress had no power to prohibit slavery
Even popular Sovereignty could not ban slavery

6. Reaction to Court Case Divided the country even more South praised
North called the decision “a wicked and false judgment and the greatest crime ever committed in the nation’s court

7. Lincoln –Douglas Debates
Stephen Douglass was known as “the Little Giant”. He was a very popular Senator.
Abraham Lincoln ran against Douglas.
Douglas was the favorite to win.

8. Lincoln-Douglas Debates
Douglas believed issue should be settled with popular sovereignty. He believed “This Union can exist forever divided into free and slave states as our fathers made it.”
Lincoln saw slavery as morally wrong. He stated “I believe that this government cannot endure permantently half slave and half slave.”

9. Douglas Wins but Lincoln gains national attention!

10. John Brown

11. Raid on Harper’s Ferry

12. John Brown becomes a martyr for abolitionist
His death becomes a rallying point for abolitionists!